Supporting means for funnels and the like



March 7, 1939. 'c. D. BLANCHARD SUPPORTING MEANS FOR FUNNELS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 18, 19 7 INVENTOR.

CkrZZEnfl- BZ naianz,

5 ATTORNEY.

Patented ar. 7, 1939 Fries SUPPORTING MEANS FOR FUNNELS AND THE. LIKE 3 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in means for supporting and operatively coupling funnels, filters, strainers or like instrumentalities in connection with receiving or collecting vessels or containers or the like.

The invention has for an object to provide, in the form of a unitary member, a very simple, easily applied and eflicient supporting and coupling device adapted to unite, in conveniently operative relation, a funnel or the like and a receiving vessel, so as to facilitate filling, filtering, straining and similar operations as carried on in the household, in laboratories, pharmacies, etc.; the device being so constructed that it is reversible, end for end, to selectively accommodate funnels or the like of various sizes, one end serving to receive comparatively large funnels and the other end comparatively small funnels; the device being operatively engageable with the receiving vessel in either position.

The invention has for another object to provide a novel supporting and coupling means adapted for separable engagement with a funnel or the like to hold the same, and likewise being separably engageable with the marginal mouth portion of a receiving vessel to operatively dispose said funnel or the like in discharging relation to the interior of the latter, and especially in such manner and position as to facilitate or quicken the discharge of liquid from the funnel to the vessel interior.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a receiving vessel and a funnel united in operative relation by means of the novel supporting and coupling device made according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a top end view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1, but with the funnel shown in horizontal section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the novel supporting and coupling device per se; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the novel supporting and coupling device.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above-described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

As shown, the novel supporting and coupling device comprises a continuous ring-like or annular body or formation of ovate oblong form, preferably made of wire or like suitable material,

posite directions respectively along spaced apart transverse points or lines intermediate said end loop members, thus providing side portions i2 by which said end loop members are disposed in relatively offset parallel planes angularly acute to the plane of said side portions l2. The junctures of the arms l3 of the major end loop member ill with the side portions i2 form elbows or hook-like portions l4 operatively related to said major end loop member, while the junctures of the arms E5 of the minor end loop member H with said side portions I2 form elbows or hooklike portions 16 operatively related to said minor end loop member. more or less S-shaped form in side edge elevation.

In Fig. 3 the device is shown as made of wire or like material. In Fig. 4 there is shown a modified form of the device, wherein the wire formation is coated with an external covering or coating H, such as rubber, lacquer, or other suitable material designed to provide nonabrasive, acid-resistant or some other desired characteristic which the particular selected coating or covering material is adapted to provide.

Illustration of the application of the novel supporting and coupling device in use is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, wherein the reference character I8 indicates a receiving vessel or container and IS a funnel desired to be coupled therewith in operative supported relation thereto. Either the major end loop member ill or the minor end loop member ll may be selected to engage the funnel l9, depending upon the size of the latter. As shown in the drawing, for purpose of illustration, the stem 2!! of the funnel is inserted downwardly through the end loop member ID until the funnel body i9 is stopped and supported by the embrace of said end loop member, whereupon the stem is entered into the interior of the vessel or container [8, until the supporting and coupling device is brought into engagement with the marginal portion or lip 2| of the mouth of the vessel or container [8, in such manner that said marginal portion or lip 2| enters between the arms l3 of the end loop member ID and the side portions l2 so as to be engaged in the bights of the laterally spacedv The resultant device is of 7 the consequence that a very stable three point suspension of the funnel relative to the vessel or container is provided, the points of support being the laterally spaced elbows or hook-like portions 14 which engage the lip of the vessel or container and the funnel stem extremity which engages the vessel or container wall. The support of the funnel thus provided holds the same rigidly immovable relation to the vessel or container to which it is applied, and the greater the weight of the funnel, the more stable is the support, since the center of gravity of the thus united funnei and vessel or container falls within the base of the latter. The freely projecting minor end loop member H, when the assembly is made in the manner above stated, may serve as a finger piece for lifting the funnel when applying or removing the same from operative relation to the vessel or container IS.

A marked advantage of the device, when serving to unite a funnel or the like in operative relation to a vessel or container, is that the funnel is supported substantially vertical with the extremity of its stem in contact with the inner wall surface of the vessel or container, so that the discharge from the funnel stem flows down the vessel or container wall, thus maintaining a continuous column or stream of liquid which greatly facilitates and quickens the discharge flow of liquid from the funnel into the vessel or container.

Other advantages of the novel supporting and coupling device are that it possesses no moving or adjustable parts requiring manipulation to adapt the same to different sizes of vessels or containers; it saves time in use since it does not require erecting manipulations as do most of the previously used funnel supports, it being necessary merely to hook the device over the lip of the vessel or container to which it is desired to apply the funnel; when not in use, the device occupies but little storage space.

The novel supporting or coupling device being reversible to permit selective use of either its major or minor end loop member according to the size of funnel desired to be used, widens its range of usefulness for application to quite a number of various sized and shaped funnels, strainers, filters and like instrumentalities.

It is also pointed out that the novel supporting and coupling device of this invention isnot limited for use as a support for funnels and the'like for filling, filtering, straining and similar operations, but is likewise adapted for many other purposes, as, for example, a coupling support to unite inverted water reservoirs in self-feeding poultry and animal drinking troughs, as well as for many analogous purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A supporting and coupling device for the purposes described comprising, an elongated annular body terminating at its ends in loop members, side portions intermediate corresponding arms of said loop members, said side portions being acutely angular to the planes of said loop members and adapted to dispose saidloop members in offset planes, and the junctures of said loop member arms and said side portions providing hook-like elbows.

2. A sup-porting and coupling device for the purposes described comprising an annular body of ovate form made of wire and. terminating at its respective ends in a major loop member and a minor loop member, side portions intermediate corresponding arms of said loop members, said side portions being acutely angular to the planes of said loop members and adapted to dispose said loop members in offset planes, and the junctures of said loop member arms and side portions providing hook-like elbows.

3. In a supporting and coupling device for the purposes described and as defined in claim 2, in which the wire forming the same is enveloped throughout its entire extent in an external covering of rubber.

CARLTON D. BLANCHARD. l 

